Effects of bromocriptine and perphenazine on male accessory sex glands II. Ultrastructure of the seminal vesicles.

The effects of prolactin (PRL) and androgen on the seminal vesicles of immature C3H/HeJ mice were studied. Glands from controls exhibited secretory activity and full differentiation. Glands from castrates were small, markedly atrophic with some stromal hyperplasia and moderate leukocytic infiltration. Testosterone-treated castrates were similar to intact controls. Perphenazine appeared to stimulate the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), Golgi, and secretory activity of the epithelium in the intact and castrated mice. Normal secretory granules were not made in the perphenazine-treated castrates, but a flocculent material usually was present in the RER, Golgi, and secretory vacuoles. Bromocriptine reduced cell height and secretory activity in intact mice and promoted anaplasia and epithelial proliferation in castrates. PRL seems to be required for the seminal vesicles to complete and maintain cytological development, but the effect of PRL may be different in the presence or absence of testicular androgens.